Inside WWE star Cody Rhodes' diet
Being a WWE superstar takes more than just spending hours in the gym, and a lot of pro-wrestlers find success in the kitchen.
For Cody Rhodes, maintaining the physique of 'The American Nightmare' involves a remarkably disciplined approach to food, with his meals carefully structured around protein, carbohydrates and consistency.
Rhodes has opened up about his eating habits and what it takes for him to get in 'big boy' shape, revealing that his routine revolves around regular meals, plenty of protein and a surprisingly repetitive comfort food.
More recently, as he prepared for WrestleMania 42, the WWE star detailed a new approach involving alternating low-carbohydrate and higher-carbohydrate days.
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One of Rhodes' longstanding rules is simple: never skip breakfast.
In an interview with GQ, the wrestler explained that breakfast is hugely important for him.
You might assume he'd be piling on the sausage and bacon or even some chicken, but the star swears by egg whites and dry wheat toast, with no breakfast meat in sight.
Rhodes has previously said he avoids such delightful breakfast meats because of their sodium and salt content.
His philosophy is less about exciting meals and more about consistency.
He has previously said that he eats approximately every three hours, helping him manage his calorie intake while keeping himself fuelled throughout demanding training and travelling schedules.
The wrestler's unlikely comfort food
Perhaps the most surprising part of Rhodes' diet is what he chooses for a comfort meal.
Before you start picturing giant pizzas or takeout, it turns out his choice is much more straight forward.
His go-to combination is grilled chicken, white rice and Thai peanut sauce.
No elaborate steak dinner. No mountains of pasta. No wrestler-sized takeaway after a particularly gruelling night in the ring.
Chicken provides protein, while rice supplies carbohydrates that can be used for energy.
Then there is the Thai peanut sauce, which adds a little more flavour.
Even wrestlers try to avoid their greens
Rhodes has also admitted to having a rather complicated relationship with vegetables.
He confessed to GQ that he dislikes most vegetables, despite recognising that they are important.
Instead, he relies on a solution many parents will recognise when trying persuade kids to eat their green.
He swears by hiding vegetables in his meals so that he can get them down without having to see a mountain of veggies on his plate.
Ahead of WrestleMania 42, Rhodes revealed that his eating strategy had become more structured.
He said he was following a cycle of two days focused on protein and fats with relatively few carbohydrates, followed by one higher-carbohydrate day.
He then repeats the pattern: two days, one day, and so on.
Rhodes credited Atlanta-based celebrity trainer Brad Kolowich with helping him develop his 'big boy heavyweight wrestling shape;.
According to Rhodes, the period leading into the biggest event on WWE's calendar involves an entire team of people working towards peak performance, with everyone from diet specialists to workout coaches.
Eating on the road
There is another challenge that comes with being one of WWE's biggest stars: Rhodes is rarely eating in the same place for long.
Travelling from city to city means restaurants, hotels and arena catering can easily derail a carefully controlled diet.
Rhodes has previously explained some of his tactics, including asking for mayonnaise to be removed from meals, skipping buns and requesting that food be prepared without oil.
It might not sound particularly exciting, but professional wrestling is a demanding business.
Maintaining a specific physique while travelling constantly requires planning, and plenty of self-control.
Jen Thomas